Biking tips

BIKE TRIP EQUIPEMENT

Please click here.

BIKE TRIP PREPARATION (and even during the trip!)

The websites I find useful to organise mine (admistrative topics, medical advices, how to chose my bike and equipment, …) – click on the “names”

  • EN ROUE LIBRE (in French) : great website, many advices on equipment such as how to chose a bike for touring, and the best bikes
  • ELECTRONS VAGABONDS (in French)
  • TOURDUMONDISTE (in French) – Not only dedicated to cyclists
  • UN MONDE A VELO (in French)
  • BICLOUS ET BIDOUILLES (in French)
  • CYCLEPLANET (in English) : it gives you access to the Whatsapp cyclists group for each part of the world. Here you can ask about the current state of countries, visas, border crossings and much more. Many other more specific ones exist too ! Super useful to prepare but also on the way !
  • VOYAGEURS ET VOYAGEUSES A VELO (in French) : a super Facebook group to get tons of advices on any topîcs related to travelling by bike around the world or 2 minutes away from your home.
  • VOYAGE A VELO (in French) : another Facebook group to share of cycling experiences and exchange of cycling tips.
  • BICYCLE TRAVELLERS (in English) : another Facebook group. International Group.
  • BUS + VELO (in French) : another Facebook group to get and give tips about travelling in a bus with a bike, especially in Europe.
  • CYCLO CAMPING INTERNATIONAL (in French) : a non-profit association that brings together and informs those who travel by bike independently.. They also give grants every year.
  • CARAVANISTAN (in English) : accurate, up-to-date information about what matters most to people traveling in Central Asia and the Silk Road: visa rules, transport options, places to stay, where to go and what to do. Not only dedicated to cyclists.

and always do not hesitate to ask friends (like me) who have done it before !

Please find also a little macro recap I made for myself :

SLEEPING

Besides doing wild camping, camping or being hosted by local people who welcome you from the road, you can use the international networks for hospîtality exchange service – click on the “names” :

  • Warmshowers (dedicated to cyclist)
  • Couchsurfing
  • Welcome to my garden : Citizens’s network offering their gardenst leur jar so you can camp for free.
  • or the ones listed on this website.
  • and do not hesitate to ask cyclist currently or formerly cycling of their best camping spots, quite a lot of them register them on a map !
  • Special Turkey – in Turkey you can sleep in the state institutions, with the “Sivil” price
    • Ogretmenevi (Teacher’s house) : I mostly tried those ones. You can kind in most of all the cities (not villages). It will cost you between 6 and 10€/night/person often with the breakfast included. You have everything you need (bed, bathroom in the room you might share with other people, towel, soap…). I never had any problems but some are better than other. If there is no room left, try again, they might find you some “salonu” where you can stay (for free or few euros), in Turkey every “salonu” has some armchair and couch that can convert into a bed !
    • Other state institutions where you can stay for the night (not tested) : PTT, (post), DSI Misafirhanesi, Polisevi, Universite Konukevleri or Universitesi Misafirhanesi, Mudurlugu Misafirhaneleri, Karayollan Misafirhaneleri, …

An excellent way to meet local people, share some time with them and get great advices about their countries!

TRAVELLING ALONE AS A WOMAN

My personal experience :

  • Italy – Albania – Greece : I almost have never felt insecure. Just once a guy started to offer me to spend the evening together, I made myself understood I was not interested, I left and I checked he was not following me with his car.
  • Turkey : I advise to cycle with someonelse (woman or man), as a woman, if you travel in Central Turkey and East Turkey (if you just follow the coast it should be ok). It does not mean you can be in danger. I just heard several experiences of woman cycling alone or even woman cycling with their boyfriend (but the boyfriend was away for few minutes). Some guys tried to kiss them, offered them a sex night, etc. Do not forget than in Turkey “European girls” are seen as much more liberated than Turkish girl and for many of them , because of religion, they can”t have sex before their wedding… Consent is still a real subject there. And please wear a fake wedding ring, it really helps a lot. Many men looked at my hand, asked me if I was married, etc. Sad but true, you are more respected if you are married…

Before leaving I contacted some girls who had been cycling alone to get their feedbacks and advices and I also read some blogs like :

Another tip : wear a wedding ring, tell that you are a married woman and prepare a story “ready to tell” to explain why you are travelling alone.

APPS TO ORGANISE A BIKE ITINERARY

  • Komoot (works offline) – /!\ even if in the “road cycling mode” Komoot can sometimes make you pass by some gravel roads…
  • Maps.me (works offline)
  • Locus Map
  • Google maps
  • Geovelo (only works in France and more adapted for every day cycling trips)

BIKE REPAIR

WISH OF A SAILING EXPERIENCE ?

It might be difficult to find one sailboat owner that accepts the bike, but maybe (as I did) you can have an experience where you come back to the same place and leave your bike there !

  • SAILBOAT HITCHHIKERS AND CREW CONNECTION (in English): a facebook group that connects sailboat owners who need crew to cross the ocean or a short passage and crew who want to find a boat, or to find captain for hire . Be always careful as a single woman to whom accept you, especially if the “man owner” tells you you will just be the 2 of you on the boat , some girls had bad experiences !
  • Women Who Sail ® (in English) : a facebook group were women can insights, tips, questions, excitement, and most importantly support over what it’s like to be a woman in the boating world. 

OTHER TIPS

  • Always check that the authorities gave you the stamps in your passport especially when you enter a country; it could be a burden when you exit the country !
  • to be continued….